Heathen Frolic

*As they do this, they are grabbed by 2 of the Ronso that approached from behind. Luna, who had started to run forward, looks back, & then has to block a claw attack.*

*Hitomi struggles to get away from the Ronso, a big block of ice dropping on top of it.*

*Ark leaps onto the Ronso grabbing Hitomi and stabs at his neck.*

*The Ronso drops Hitomi & throws Ark onto the ground before leaping high into the air. Luna backs away as more Ronso flank her from either side. Then she lets loose with a whirling spear attack, which hurls them all away. Ifrit grabs the other 3 & hurls them into the caves before the Ronso surround it & attack with claws, horns & blizzard spells. It falls over & dissolves into Pyreflies.*

"Come on, let's go!"

*Luna starts running into the caves.*

"How do we keep them from following us?!"

*Hitomi runs into the cave following Luna.*

[I guess knowing Geomancy would've been a good idea.]

Ingrid runs into the caves behind the rest of the group. "I would suggest caving in the entrance, but something about messing with the structural stability of a cave while we are inside of it seems unwise."

Ark: <Have any better ideas?>

*Ark hides the Grenade he had just taken out of his pocket behind his back as he runs alongside Ingrid.*

*They pass a line of lichen.*

"Oh, I've got it!"

*She turns back, gathering energy into her spear, & stabs it. The plant is crushed by a torrent of gravity, turning into a line of sticky black goop.*

Ark: <That's... nice.>

*He frows at the goop and runs further into the cave.*

*Hitomi sets fire to the black goop.*

*Luna then picks Hitomi up & runs through the cave carrying her like a football.*

*Hitomi looks at Luna in both confusion and horror.*

"Pl... Please put me down."

Ingrid continues to run with the group. "That was quick thinking Luna."

*Ark looks back over his shoulder and widens his eyes upon seing Luna carrying Hitomi. He looks back forward and keeps running.*

[Okay!]

"Alright...I think we're clear."

*She puts Hitomi down near a fissure in the rock that orange light is shining through.*

*Hitomi blinks twice and stares at Luna like "What just happened?"*

"Why did you carry me?"

"Err...I didn't want you to fall behind."

*She looks out the crack.*

"I think we're almost at the summit."

*Hitomi blinks again.*

[Why would she worry about something like that? Especially now. Was there... Did she have some other reason for doing it?]

Ark: <Let's keep going then!>

*When they step out to the summit, they see the sun set. They also see that the side of the mountain is filled with petrified bodies in various poses, with a column of energy going up into the sky. The snow around them melts, creating a small pool at the bottom.*

"That's...some kind of mass Fayth? What does...what for...?"

*Hitomi looks from the freaky pillar to the melting snow.*

[I feel like snow. I was melting when Luna carried me. That shouldn't be and it doesn't make sense, but that's what happened. Does that mean I... No, that's not possible. But maybe... I don't know.]

Ark: <I have a more important question. Would the Ronso follow us up here?>

"I don't know. I don't know how long that fire will hold them up. But we're lucky. Normally, once a Summoner gets this far, Yunalesca starts sending Fiends after her to test her strength. But she doesn't seem to consider us worth the time."

<That's because we simply can't afford to let you defeat Sin.>

*A red shadowy figure emerges from the Fayth. After a few seconds, it solidifies into a red-robed Unsent with a butterfly-shaped emblem on its chest. Luna raises her spear & does a twirl.*

<Don't bother. This close to so many Fayth, a Sending will never reach me.>

*Hitomi casts Watera on the Unsent.*

Ingrind looks at Hitomi, then at the unsent to see what effect the spell had. "Don't you think that was a bit hasty?"